Sumo: Ex-ozeki Mitakeumi leads in Nagoya, Onosato among 7 in chase
Mitakeumi (6-0), ranked near the bottom of the elite makuuchi division as a No. 16 maegashira, overpowered his fellow former ozeki and No. 13 maegashira Shodai (3-3) in a force-out win at IG Arena. It is his best start since January 2022 when he won the last of his three Emperor's Cups and sealed his promotion to ozeki.
His spell at the second-highest rank was short-lived, however, as he was demoted after four meets and his indifferent form since saw him drop to second-tier juryo this May before he came straight back up.
Onosato had no trouble receiving the opening drive from Mongolian-born No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (1-5) and bulldozed him out. He is the only grand champion left in action after Hoshoryu pulled out at 1-4 Thursday due to a left big toe injury.
Kotozakura (4-2) made the most of a poor decision from No. 2 maegashira Abi (3-3) to sidestep the ozeki at the start and easily grappled out the pusher-thruster.
Overnight co-leader Ichiyamamoto (5-1) lost his perfect record after No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (3-3) withstood an early pull-down attempt and knocked the No. 8 rank-and-filer off balance before pushing him out.
Komusubi Takayasu (5-1) showed his class against rising Ukrainian star Aonishiki (4-2). The former ozeki barely avoided touching the sand with his hand following the No. 1 maegashira's favorite inner thigh sweep before recovering to prevail with an emphatic right overarm throw.
Sekiwake Kirishima (5-1) easily pushed No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (1-5) from the back to bounce back from his first loss, while fellow Mongolian-born veteran Tamawashi (5-1) also got back to winning ways after the 40-year-old No. 4 maegashira overwhelmed No. 6 maegashira Gonoyama (4-2) and pushed him down.
No. 9 maegashira Ura (5-1) patiently forced out No. 7 maegashira Tobizaru (2-4). Makuuchi debutant and No. 14 maegashira Kusano (5-1), the back-to-back juryo champion, swiveled Ukrainian Shishi (3-3) before beating the No. 17 maegashira by frontal crush out.
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